Lady Flames complete sweep of Bulldogs with repeat shutout performance

Saturday, February 14

Lynchburg, VA

1:30 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Adrian College

Lady Flames senior forward Haley Battles maneuvers the puck between Adrian College players in Saturday afternoon's 2-0 triumph. (Photos by Ted Allen)

Lady Flames complete sweep of Bulldogs with repeat shutout performance

2/14/2026 10:26:00 PM | Women's D1 Hockey

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Senior goalie Alex Keith made 20 saves for her 10th shutout of the season and Liberty won for the 60th time in its past 61 games to close out the regular season.

Gallery: (2-14-2026) DI women's hockey vs. Adrian Game 2

Liberty University's No. 1-ranked ACHA Division I women's hockey team celebrated a 30-0-1 regular season and senior goalie Alex Keith's league-leading 10th shutout in a second 2-0 triumph and series sweep of Adrian (Mich.) College on Saturday, Senior Day at the LaHaye Ice Center.

"It was a very good weekend for us defensively," Lady Flames Head Coach Chris Lowes said. "Our goalies were really solid this weekend, so that's really encouraging, and we were playing a team with really good goaltending, so it was nice for them to win that matchup."

"(Keith) always stands on her head for us, but for her to get it on our Senior (Day) is especially special for her," added senior defenseman Emerson Oakes, who netted the game winner on Friday night and an empty-net insurance score on Saturday. "It was awesome. It's honestly a dream come true. I never would have expected it, but it's a great way end my career here at home."

After a scoreless first period for the second straight game, Liberty struck first with 3:08 to play in the second when junior forward Tristan Craig sent a pass from the left circle into graduate forward and head captain Brielle Fussy in the slot. She got tangled up with a Bulldogs player, and Craig recovered the puck and fired a wrist shot past Adrian goalie Rieley Jessie-Gerelli into the top-right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.

"It was a really nice shot, and a really nice screen in front by (graduate forward) Iso (Pettem-Shand)," Lowes said.

Less than two minutes later, with the Lady Flames on a fast break, sophomore forward Hayley Lee was checked from behind into the right post by a Bulldogs defenseman, her body falling limp as she collapsed into the cage. Attended to by Club Sports Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Angie Witt, Lee was able to skate off the ice with assistance from teammates, but did not return.

Besides Lee, Liberty was playing without senior forward Brookelyn Beauchamp, who suffered a lower-body injury in last weekend's national championship rematch sweep at Maryville (Mo.) University.
"That's really tough, obviously," Oakes said. "It's not what you expect or want, but she's put on a brave face for us, and she smiles for us, and she's a great hype woman on the side for us."

After the penalty and game infraction against the Bulldogs for the hit on Lee, Liberty was unable to capitalize on a five-minute major power play that spanned the second and third periods, but maintained pressure for the majority of the rest of the game. The Lady Flames outshot the Bulldogs, 52-20, and Keith corralled the few quality chances Adrian manufactured.

After an interference penalty against graduate defenseman Sammy Peebles put the Bulldogs on a power play for the final 48 seconds of regulation, they pulled Jessie-Gerelli for a 6-on-4 advantage. But the move quickly backfired as Oakes unleashed a 100-foot shot that found the empty net for the insurance goal, replicating the final score from Friday night's series opener.

"I was from close to the goal line," Oakes said. "I was just trying to ice the puck, but I looked in the distance and it was going into the net and that was awesome. It was crazy but unexpected."

"It was exciting for her," Lowes added. "She's had a big year for us offensively, too, kind of a breakout, so I am happy to see her have that."

He said the Lady Flames have received production from the back line all season, and that continued this weekend with three of their four goals scored by defensemen.

"We've gotten it from everyone all year. Our offensive production from our D has been really good," Lowes said. "(Graduate Sammy) Peebles has been playing well, (graduate Allison) Shaw is always a weapon, (junior) Sophia (Adamek) is a weapon. That's one of our strengths — our D corps' ability to provide offensive power."

He said the back-to-back battles with the Bulldogs prepared Liberty well for the playoffs.

"Adrian's a good team, and that's a 1-0 game," Lowes added. "Those are fun games to be a part of, where every bounce matters and every loose puck could be the difference-maker. We are happy to get out of here with two wins, to wrap up the regular season and quickly turn the page to (WMCH) Conference playoffs on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday."

The top-seeded Lady Flames, who have won the past two WMCH tournaments, will fly out to Midland (Neb.) University on Wednesday and face No. 8-seeded Minnesota in the quarterfinal round.

"We'll see some good teams there, and they'll all be ready," Oakes said. "Any time they play Liberty, they're always on their A game, so we'll have to be ready for that. You lose and you're out, or you win and you move on."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer